Parenting in a Tech World

Welcome to Parenting in a Tech World, the podcast for families raising kids in the digital age. Join Bark CMO Titania Jordan as she unpacks digital dangers, discusses the latest viral social media trends, and shares expert tips for helping protect kids online and in real life.

Screen Time, Family Time, and Everything in Between with Tessa Stuckey, LPC

Licensed counselor and mom Tessa Stuckey joins us to share a grounded, compassionate look at what it really takes to raise emotionally healthy kids in a hyper-connected world. From how screens affect mental health to having hard conversations, we discuss different ways parents can build digital resilience in kids.Connect with Tessa:InstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedInVisit Tessa's sites:https://www.tessastuckey.com/http://www.projectlkup.org/Order Tessa's book: https://www.tessastuckey.com/order-book

11-19
43:19

Hidden Apps Teens Use: What Parents Need to Know

Teens are getting creative when it comes to hiding content on their phones. From vault apps that look like calculators to hidden photo folders, it can be hard for parents to know what's really going on. In this episode, we break down why kids use them and how parents can stay informed without breaking trust.Learn more about vault apps: https://www.bark.us/blog/find-hidden-apps/Join Parenting in a Tech World: https://www.facebook.com/groups/119842088645840

11-06
16:56

Live from Maine! 10 Years of Bark with Brian and Brandon

This episode was recorded live at Bark Week at the Cliff House in Maine with our CEO, Brian Bason, and CTO, Brandon Hilkert. We looked back on Bark’s journey from a small startup to where we are today, helping protect millions of families across the country.

10-23
34:09

Hope After Heartbreak: A Conversation with the Padillas

After losing their son and brother, Jack, to suicide, John and Rick Padilla transformed heartbreak into advocacy. In this moving conversation, they share how their work — from Mountain in My Mind to legal reform — is creating hope and healing for families everywhere.Learn more about Mountain in My Mind and follow John on social:InstagramYouTubeResources mentioned in this episode:Childhood 2.0 DocumentaryJudi's House (for those local to Denver)Connect with Rick via email: richardl.padilla@gmail.com

10-15
26:41

Meet the Moms Who Made a Kinder Messaging App for Kid

Raising kids in the digital age isn’t easy, but Sage Haven is making it a little kinder. Founders (and sisters!) Anne and Kate share how their messaging app helps parents guide healthy online conversations while keeping kids safer.Sage Haven is the first messaging app designed to address online bullying head-on with AI moderation that is designed to block harmful messages before they are sent and nudge kids towards kindness. It also allows parents to approve every contact and monitor their child’s messages directly from their own phones, with the support of AI-powered alerts and conversation recaps. Sage Haven is thoughtfully designed for a child’s early messaging years, with built-in flexibility to gradually scale back supervision as they grow and gain independence.Learn more at www.sagehavenforkids.com and www.sageparents.org and follow Kate and Anne’s journey on the Sage Sisters Podcast.Links:Download the Sage Haven appGet the Sage Parents Free Kids & Tech GuidebookFollow Anne and Kate on social:Sage ParentsSage Haven for KidsSage Sisters PodcastSage Parents on Facebook

10-08
37:55

Neurodivergent Parenting in a Tech World with Cindy Robinson

Cindy Robinson is an author, researcher, and neurodivergent life coach who works with individuals with ADHD. In this episode, she shares her perspective on parenting, technology, and what it means to raise kids in today’s world.Learn more about Cindy on her website and give her a follow on Instagram!Don't forget to check out her books:Bright Girl Lacks FocusMaladaptive Daydreams

10-01
52:29

Fatherhood Flow: Killer Mike Shares His Parenting Insights

Killer Mike shares his perspective on parenting in today’s world, offering advice for helping kids navigate both online and offline life. Listen in as he reflects on timeless approaches to raising confident, resilient children.

09-25
34:25

Digital Safety in Action: A Chat with Joshua & Brock of Parent ProTech

Today, we chat with Joshua and Brock from Parent ProTech, who equip parents and educators with expert-backed tools to keep kids safe online. They share practical tips on online safety, AI, and how families can actively guide their child’s digital journey.Learn more about Parent ProTech and connect with the team:https://www.parentprotech.com/InstagramYouTubeFacebookLinkedInDon't forget to sign up for the Parent ProTech newsletter!

09-23
01:00:17

Protecting Young Eyes with Chris McKenna

Today’s guest is Chris McKenna of Protect Young Eyes, a nonprofit dedicated to creating safer digital spaces for kids. Chris, a longtime friend and partner of Bark, shares insights on online risks and strategies families can use to keep kids safer in the digital world.Links discussed in this episode:Learn more about Protect Young EyesCheck out the Childhood 2.0 documentarySign the #DelayIsTheWay ManifestoConnect with Chris and the PYE team:InstagramFacebookYouTubeDon't forget to sign up for their newsletter, The Download, to get important updates!

09-18
01:03:23

The Safe House Project: Protecting Kids from Trafficking

Kristi Wells and Brittany Dunn of the Safe House Project share the urgent realities of child sex trafficking and how families and communities can support children’s safety.Discussed in this episode:Learn more about the Safe House Project Download the Simply Report app on the App Store and Google PlayRead the 2024 Impact ReportDonate to the Safe House ProjectLearn more about VOCAConnect with the Safe House Project:InstagramFacebookDon't forget to sign up for the Safe House Project newsletter for important updates!

09-12
36:28

Bringing the Heat to Big Tech: A Conversation with Sarah Gardner

Sarah Gardner, founder of the Heat Initiative, joins us to discuss how her team is holding Big Tech accountable for child safety failures. From calling out Apple and Meta to mobilizing public pressure, she shares the wins, challenges, and how we can all help bring the heat.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about the Heat Initiative: https://heatinitiative.org/Donate: https://heatinitiative.org/support-us/Email Apple and demand more from Meta: https://heatinitiative.org/take-action/Connect with the Heat Initiative:https://www.instagram.com/heatinitiative/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKgRtoOP9x1_hJxWvKcDp0Qhttps://twitter.com/heatinitiative

09-11
45:50

Kris Perry on Helping Kids Thrive in a Digital World

Kris Perry, executive director of Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, joins us to discuss how technology is shaping childhood, and what parents, educators, and policymakers can do to support healthy development.Learn more about Children and Screens: https://www.childrenandscreens.org/Resources mentioned in this episode:International Scientific CongressMonthly expert webinarsScreen Deep PodcastParent tip sheetsDon't forget to sign up for the monthly ScreenShots Newsletter and support Children and Screens via donations.

08-20
35:50

Titania and Sam have a chat with ChatGPT

ChatGPT is showing up in classrooms, homework, and even kids’ casual conversations — but how safe is it? In this episode, Titania and Sam put AI to the test, asking hard-hitting questions to see exactly what kids might encounter. The results? Eye-opening, surprising, and a must-hear for any parent navigating the digital world.

08-06
22:16

The Power of Honest Parenting with Toni Collier

Toni Collier joins us to talk about parenting through the hard stuff in life. Learn how embracing your family's mess can actually help build stronger, more resilient kids. Connect with Toni:https://www.tonijcollier.com/https://www.instagram.com/tonijcollier/https://www.facebook.com/colliertonihttps://youtube.com/@tonijcollierOrder 'Broken Crayons Still Color': https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/brokencrayons/

07-23
25:58

Preventing Addiction Before It Starts: Drugs, Kids, and the Modern Age with Dr. Zona

We're joined by Dr. Zona to learn how parents can get ahead of addiction by starting honest, informed conversations early. From what’s changed since we were kids to practical ways to talk with yours, this is a conversation every caregiver needs to hear.Follow Dr. Zona:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/addictiontokdok/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@addictiontokdokResources discussed in this episode:Song for Charlie Drug Graph: https://www.songforcharlie.org/page/current-dataSong for Charlie, "You Need To Know" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTSSXlkYhUgSong for Charlie, "Real Talk About Fake Pills" YouTube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLApJM_NGL-0P_dBtR3HzHKknnpjmE88Cb&feature=sharedDEA One Pill Can Kill: https://www.dea.gov/onepillDOPA Good Samaritan Law: https://dopa.ge/good-samBark's Drug Slang Guide: https://www.bark.us/blog/drug-slang-emojis/

07-09
54:44

Standing Up to Big Tech and Social Media with Scrolling 2 Death’s Nicki Petrossi

Learn from a former social media industry exec turned family advocate how to help keep your kids safe in an age of ever-present social media.Connect with Nicki and learn more about Scrolling2Death:https://www.scrolling2death.com/https://www.instagram.com/scrolling2death/https://www.youtube.com/@Scrolling2Deathhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/nickireisbergS2D Foundation: https://www.scrolling2death.com/donateResources mentioned in this episode:Better Than Real Life book https://www.amazon.com/Better-Than-Real-Life-Persuasive/dp/B0DS1GDTZ6Dual Households blog: https://www.bark.us/blog/bark-works-dual-households/

07-02
40:04

Discussing the Dangers of Kidfluencing with Mom Uncharted

Sarah Adams, known as Mom Uncharted online, is bringing attention to parents who overshare about their kids online as well as kidfluencing, as both can cause real harm to kids.Follow Sarah:https://www.instagram.com/mom.unchartedhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mom.unchartedLinks mentioned in this episode:momuncharted.comkidsarenotcontent.comWatch Bad Influence: The Dark Side of KidfluencingNational Center for Missing & Exploited ChildrenLearn more about the TAKE IT DOWN ActInternet Crimes Against Children Task Force

06-25
58:48

The Battle Against Snapchat: A Conversation with Sam Chapman

In this episode, Titania talks to Sam Chapman, a father whose son was sold fentanyl-laced drugs on Snapchat and tragically died of an overdose. Today, he’s working to get a law passed that would require social media companies like Snap to open their systems to parental control apps like Bark — so parents stay in the know when it comes to online dangers.Links mentioned in this episode:Sign the petition for Sammy's Law: https://www.socialmediasafety.org/sammys-law/Learn more about Parent Collective: https://parentcollective.org/Vanish Mode preview: https://f.io/zWBqTe6gOrganization for Social Media Safety: https://www.socialmediasafety.org/

06-11
37:45

Hot Take: Kids Don’t Need iPhones

iPhones and Androids are the two most popular phones in the world, but only one is safer for kids: Androids. Learn what separates the two, and why your child definitely deserves one.Resources discussed in this episode:Chris McKenna, Protect Young Eyes, https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/Nicki Reisberg, Scrolling2Death, https://www.scrolling2death.com/Podcast Episode with Brandon Hilkert, https://youtu.be/38QGPPhBULkOrder your Bark Phone, https://www.bark.us/bark-phone/

06-09
25:36

Forget Prank Calls—Here’s What Kids Are Really Doing at Sleepovers

Growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, sleepovers were about popcorn, movie marathons, and maybe calling your crush. Today, phones have transformed them into late night bouts of Snapchat drama, inappropriate video watching, and more.

05-21
19:42

Recommend Channels